A PLAN 

FOR 

TRANSLATING LANGUAGES, 

WITHOUT STUDY, 

OR ANY PREVIOUS ACQUAINTANCE THEREWITH. 

BY HENRY MATTHEWS. 



s i 



/<PZ~f 

■ 



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An opinion has been entertained by some learned 
men, in different ages, that the knowledge of over- 
coming the difficulties of languages would be one day 
accomplished; and others have thought it possible 
to contrive, or create, a general or universal lan- 
guage. Several ingenious plans have been sug- 
gested for the support of foreign correspondence, by 
means of a general or universal character ; but, in 
all these, there is much to be acquired and remem- 
bered, as well as a thorough acquaintance with the 
principles of grammar. Except a plan can be de- 
vised to be comprehensible by the person who can 
merely read, as well as the scholar, the sale of such 
a work would not be sufficiently extensive to justify 
the expence. A system fully suitable has been con- 



.r-U 

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eeived, which, by a simple arrangement, will obviate 
every difficulty. 

The dictionary now proposed will enable persons 
to correspond with foreigners, of whose language 
they have no knowledge ; and to translate/ freely, 
every species of their literature. 

Any two persons possessing this dictionary may 
cany on a private correspondence, which cannot be 
comprehended by those who have even access to the 
same dictionary. • 

In whatever language this plan is first published, 
that will become the universal language, or the one 
to which all others will refer, and from which they 
will enrich and enlarge the scope and capacity of ex- 
pressing ideas. 

By this dictionary, it will be only pastime for 
children to translate English works into the languages 
of India and China, and their works into our own. In 
fact, it will unlock the knowledge of the world, and 
communicate it to all, the most uninformed as well 
.-■as the profoundly learned. 

In addition to these peculiar advantages, it will 
answer all the purposes of any other dictionary, 
whether as a school-book or otherwise. 

In order to ensure general acceptation, this pro- 
posed work should be rendered the most complete 
vocabulary of words and significations the learned 
can devise. All the words in the English language 
should be carefully arranged, with a strict regard to 
the following rule: viz. all the words which have 
more than one meaning, repeated as many times as 
there are significations. For instance, in the common 



3 

t 

dictionary the words and significations would some- 
times stand thus: 

Tiller, s. a ploughman ; handle of a rudder. 

But, in this dictionary, it must be repeated 
thus: 

1. Tiller, s. a ploughman. 

2. Tiller, s. a handle of a rudder. 

When thus arranged, every word, (or, more pro- 
perly,) every signification contained in the English 
language is to be numbered, and the same number 
placed against the like word or signification in every 
language to which the plan may be extended. 

The idea of numbering words in each language 
has occurred to others. But here the difficulty com- 
mences, for which, hitherto, no practical remedy has 
| been discovered: it is meant, for the difficulty of re- 
ference, which arises from every language differing 
in order or arrangement of words. Every vocabu- 
lary (except the English) would be so deranged by 
placing words in numerical order, that persons accus- 
tomed to refer by sound would not be able to find the 
word wanted, or the number of that particular word, 
in a numerical vocabulary. To make this plan ex- 
tensively useful, every language (except the English) 
must have two vocabularies; one arranged in nume- 
rical, and the other in alphabetical order. 

The English interpreting dictionary will be both 
alphabetical and numerical, in one and the same 
book. This advantage can only fall to the language 
that first adopts the plan. 



Universal Numbers. Words. Explanation. 

1 Aba'cot, s. an ancient kind of a crown. 

English. -^ 2 Ba'al, s. a Cananitish idol. 

3 Caba'l, s. private junto, an intrigue. 



The form in which foreign vocabularies must be 
printed, to correspond with the above, follows : 



No. 1. 


No. 2. 


Numerical 


Vocabulary. 


Alphabetical Vocabulary, 


>" umber Word 

1 ... Y 


Explanation. 


in which the universal num- 
ber of each word will appear, 


2 .. K — r 




but not in numerical order. 


ii CI \J 




Universal 
Word. Explanation. Number. 


4 .. M — 




A 4379 

B 472 

C 7316 



The way in which communication can be made 
with languages using an unknown character. 

In those languages in which the common Arabic 
numeral is not used or known, the characters by 
which they express numbers may be placed beyond N - 
the Arabic characters, thus : 




In order to be understood by a foreigner, a person 
first writes a letter in his own language. He then re- 
fers to Book, No. 2. for each word : there he finds 

273 
its number. This number he places over it, thus; 

or he may send the numbers only ; the significations 
against which being the same in all languages, such 
letter can be understood in all languages, by means 
►of their numerical vocabulary, No. 1. 

If a person write to a foreigner who he thinks has 
not an interpreting dictionary, he may himself trans- 
late it, before he sends it, by the same means. 

A person wishing to interpret a foreign book, re- 
fers to vocabulary, No. 2, of that language, for each 
word; the number of which, in his own numerical 
vocabulary, No. 1, gives him its meaning. 

It will be perceived, that this plan will give a literal 
translation, not of sentences, but of single words, or 
their significations; so that sometimes the words will 
not stand exactly in the same order in which a native 
would have placed, them. However, they never can 
be so far out of place, as that the proper idea can be 
lost. To translate a foreign book by this means, fit 
for the public eye, it will be proper to revise each sen- 
tence, and place the sense in words which flow most 
easy, in the same way that all other kinds of trans- 
lations are given. 

The way in which an endless variety of plans for 
private correspondence may be carried on from this 
dictionary, is simply for any two persons to agree 
what letter or private mark they will substitute for 
each numeral* 



6 

For instance, the following marks, 

o ( ) 7 'J 1 / \ - . 
n)ay be called, 12345 6789 

If the work now proposed were only an abridg- 
ment of a dictionary that could not be of general use, 
or were it to occupy considerable time in learning, 
some doubt might be entertained of its general ac- 
ceptation ; but when it is remembered, that it is a 
complete dictionary, in the different languages in 
which it is published, no doubt can possibly remain. 

Although this work will be found useful to the 
learned in languages, yet that is not the principal 
proposed end : if it had been, the variations in verbs, 
persons, tenses, and genders, might have been dis- 
tinguished by particular characters placed before or 
after them,, and thereby the bulk of the work much 
compressed. But to attain a knowledge of these ab- 
breviations, would be nearly as difficult as learning a 
system of short-hand, or acquiring a new language; 
after which, their writing could only be understood 
by those acquainted with this plan. This work wilt 
widely differ from any thing that has hitherto been 
suggested for the accomplishment of this desirable 
object. It may be properly called a dictionary of 
significations or single ideas ; and will show by what, 
character, word, or words, each signification is ex- 
pressed, in every language into which the plan may 
be translated. After all the significations the English 
language is capable of expressing are properly ar- 
ranged, the learned in languages will be consulted, to. 
ascertain what foreign words there are capable of ex-» 



pressing ideas which cannot be properly expressed by 
the English language. With these, our language 
(already richj^may still be more enriched. When 
this work is so completed, all these significations, 
however they are expressed, whether by a letter, a 
word, or by several words, must then be numbered r 
the English language will so become fixed as a dead 
language. The poorer languages, and those which are 
but little better than dialects, will be enriched from 
this fixed source, all their deficiency being supplied 
with English. 

The facilities this plan certainly will afford to the 
learner are so great, that, after it is published,, no one 
will ever study a foreign language without it. Its 
usefulness as a school-book will readily be admitted; 
for by it, the younger scholars, at the time they are 
learning to spell, will acquire a Tery considerable 
knowledge of grammar, of ready writing, of a correct 
pronunciation, and of a foreign language. All these 
kinds of knowledge, together with the habit of appli- 
cation, will simultaneously be acquired by simply 
learning to spell and read by this book. Let it be 
supposed that a given number of scholars of one class, 
two of whom stand up to read, one with the Eng- 
lish, the other with the French dictionary on this 
plan : the boy with the English book pronounces dis- 
tinctly a word, which all write down: the boy with 
the French dictionary then reads the corresponding 
word in the French, (having first acquired the proper 
pronunciation of all the words he is to read for that 
exercise:) this French word each boy writes against 
the English. By writing from the ear, the proper 



8 

sound of letters, both English and French, will be 
more correctly acquired ; and all those words which 
are wrong spelt, will have to be written again and 
learned by heart. 

The same scholars being sometimes readers, other 
times writers, will not only gain the habit of pro- 
nouncing and writing correctly, but, by constantly 
reading in a book in which the different parts of 
speech are so fully expressed, they will become great 
proficients in an essential branch of grammar, before 
they know they have begun to study grammar at all* 
It therefore must recommend itself as a school-book. 

If the managers of respectable schools would sub- 
scribe for six copies only, and intelligent parents and 
guardians of youth for only one, a means would 
thereby be afforded for carrying into effect a work 
which will, perhaps, prove not less happj' in its future 
consequences, than the art of printing itself. It will 
take the light from under the bushel, and place it 
where its congenial beams will enlighten the whole 
world. For by rendering translation a pleasing exer- 
cise for children, their amusements will contribute to 
strengthen their understandings, by translating and 
then correcting the uncouth words which will some- 
times appear in literal translations. 

The facilities this plan will afford to merchants, 
by enabling them to correspond with foreigners, are 
so great, that it is presumed no English merchant 
will neglect to patronise it. 

The philanthropist, the patriot, the philosopher, 
and the Christian, now hail knowledge as the cure 
for all the calamities of suffering nature. Through 



9 

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the gloom of the middle ages, when the horrible 
reign of inquisitorial darkness overwhelmed the world, 
this was not the case ; but now another spirit is gone 
forth, ignorance must flee, and knowledge be tri- 
umphant over the whole earth. The philanthropist 
has discovered that it is to ignorance the cells of our 
prisons are indebted for their inhabitants. The 
patriot asserts, that the enemies of law and good 
order are seldom to be found among the educated. 
Those who are taught how beneficial reflection is, 
know that no policy exceeds honesty. And the 
religious are aware that, when mankind have sufficient 
light to discover that God is really love, they will 
love him ; and, loving him, they will work no ill 
to their neighbour. Those who do indeed think 
that light and knowledge will do evil to mankind at 
large, should use all means to suppress this work. 
But if any think that light will effect more good than 
evil, such, no doubt, will exert themselves to obtain 
subscribers, and thereby co-operate in producing that 
good. 

The very few superfluous words, such as the 
double negative in the French, &c. can, at first 
sight, be discovered by a common capacity, and 
struck out, or supplied, as may be required. The 
verbatim translation of the first Psalm, from an old 
French Bible, is furnished as an example, which will 
apply equally to all languages, and show how near 
perfection this plan may be brought, if placed under 
the superintendance of the learned. Public appro- 
bation, however, will be first ascertained, as it will 
not be brought forward except it can be done in a 
style that will not disgrace the republic of letters. 



10 

This tract is published merely to secure the copy- 
right ; and if literary gentlemen will condescend to 
usher it into the world, or notice it in any way, and 
likewise receive subscribers' names, they will confer 
an obligation on its author. It is not his present 
intention expensively to advertise, until the opinion 
of men of letters is ascertained. Two or three, of 
superior talents, have expressed their pleasure at the 
ingenuity, importance, and simplicity of the plan ; 
and they strongly recommend its publication. 

The work, in English, may be completed in three 
volumes. Its powers may be judged of by only 
leaving out the few small words within the paren- 
theses, in the following example. 



PSEAUME I. 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10* 

1. O que bien-heureux est le personnage qui ne 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

ehemine point suivant le conseil des mechans, & qui 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

ne s'arrete point au train des pecheurs, & qui ne 

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 

s'assied point au banc des moqueurs; 

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 

2. Mais duquel le plaisir est en la loy de TEternel^ 

49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58. 

tellement qu'il medite jour & nuit en sa loy. 

59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 

3. Car il sera comme un arbre plante pres des 

68 69 ( 70 ) 71 72 73 74 75 

ruisseaux d'eaux-courantes, qui rend son fruit en 

76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 

sa saison, & du quel le feuillage ne fletrit point: 



11 

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 
& ainsi tout ce qu'il fera viendra a bien. 

97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 

4. II n'en sera pas ainsi des medians: mais 

105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 

iJs seront comme de la bale que le vent chasse 

( 115 ) 

au loin. 

116 117 118 U9 120 121 122 

5. C'est pourquoi les medians ne subsisteront 

123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 
point en jugement, ni les pecheurs en 1'assemblec 

132 133 

des justes; 

134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 

6. Car l'Eternel avoue le train des justes, 

142 143 144 145 146 147. 

mais le train des medians perira. 



PSALM I. 

2345678 9 10 

1. Oh! how very happy is the person who (not) 

li 12 ( 13 ) 14 15 ( 16 ) 17 18 

walks not according to the counsel of the wicked, and 

19 20 21 22 23 ( 24 ) 25 26 27 

who (not) himself stops not in the way of sinners, 

28 29 30 31 32 33 ( 34 ) 35 ( 36 ) 

and who (not) himself sits not on the seat of the 

37 

scorners. 

38 ( 39 ) 40 41 42 43 44 43 46 

2. But of whom the pleasure is in the law of 

47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 

the Lord, so that he meditates day and night in 

57 58. 

his law. 



12 

59 60 ( 61 ) 62 63 64 65 66 67 

3. For he shall be as a tree planted near the 

68 69 ( 70 ) 71 72 73 74 75 

rivers of waters flowing, which yields its fruit in 

76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 

its season, and of which the leaves (not) wither 

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 ( 92 ) 93 
not; and thus all that which he shall do will 

94 95 96. 

come to good. 

97 98 ( 99 ) 100 101 ( 102 ) 103 

4. It (not) shall be not thus of the wicked; 

104 105 ( 106 ) 107 108 109 110 111 112 
but they shall be like unto the chaff which the 

113 114 115. 
wind driveth far, 

116 117 ( H8 ) 119 120 121 (122 

5. That is for which the wicked (not) shall 

122 ) 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 

subsist not in judgment, nor (the) sinners in 

130 131 ( 132 ) 133. 

the assembly of the righteous. 

134 135 136 137 138 139 ( 140 ) 

6. For the Lord owneth the way of the 

righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish. 
141 142 143 144 ( 145 ) 146 ( 147. ) 



The names of those who wish to take one or more copies, 
will most likely be received at the publishers' of the works 
which kindly condescend to notice the plan. 

If public approbation is thus made to appear, the work 
will be carried on without delay. 

It is requested that all communications made, be post 
paid. 



Harvey, "arum, and Co. Priiuer*t 
Gtaccchurcli-Stfeet, London. 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



003 096 915 7 







